Inspiring others is surely the dream of just about EVERY writer … And we all have books, movies, TV shows, even quotes that inspire us and keep us going!
I love this from Julie — I was feeling at a loose end, wanting a new challenge, but not really sure what to do … Then I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I enjoyed this book so much and for the first time, took notice of the so-called ‘domestic noir’ subgenre of crime fiction. Suddenly something clicked. That’s what I would write, too! And the rest, as they say, is history … Enjoy!
Have you ever read a book or piece of writing that made you feel you’re not doing enough? It’s not just because you were reading a grandiose piece of literature. You loved that book because it inspired you to act.
When you read such a mesmerising book, you see your vain life and you start thinking: “how can I spend my time here in a more meaningful way?”
That’s where we see the power of a great writer: inspiration.
No, we’re not talking about turning motivational talks into a book. In fact, that might be yet another writing mistake. We’re talking about inspiring people through your stories. Let’s see how you can do that …
1) Recognise Your Passion
What sets your soul on fire? What unlocks your desire to get into fiery discussions? Get in there! The more passionate you are about the theme of your book or screenplay, the more you’ll affect people with it.
You have moments of inspiration, don’t you? You’re watching your favorite TV show and all of the sudden, you feel inspired by something the characters do or say. Capture those moments. Write about the way they inspire you. If you don’t know what your true passions are, this is a good way to discover them.
2) Explore The Frozen Sea Within You
“I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we’re reading doesn’t wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for? So that it will make us happy, as you write? Good Lord, we would be happy precisely if we had no books. And the kind of books that make us happy are the kind we could write ourselves if we had to. But we need books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.”
With those words, Franz Kafka managed to capture everything a great reader is looking for in a great book. Your book has to keep the reader tossing and turning at night.
How do you do this? First, take that axe and crush the frozen sea you carry inside. Why don’t you try meditation? It’s not just about focus and productivity. Getting deep inside your thoughts and feelings will reveal the things that wrack your body and mind. With that, your writing will be getting more powerful and inspirational by the day.
3) Don’t Think *Just* about Your Reader
Most writing advice will say: Think about the reader. Find out what they want to read and give it to them. This is good advice, but we have to think of ourselves as writers too. We must respect that inner drive to create. We write because it’s the only thing we believe we should be doing. Our voices matter. It’s exactly what makes your work distinct!
4) Ask for Another Writer’s Opinion
Do you have a fellow writer who can read part of your script and tell you how it affected them? If you don’t, it’s time to start making connections.
You can even turn to some of the top essay writing companies for such collaboration. You can hire a writer or editor, who will approach your work from a reader’s point of view. Their feedback will mean a lot. You’ll know what aspects to improve or change before you get that book or screenplay out there.
5) Remember WHY You Write
How long has it been since you last saw Memento? Remember how Leonard was forcing himself to remember? Each tattoo and each photo was supposed to remind him of something important.
Find your memento. Remember why you write! It may be a favourite book, movie or TV show. It may be an old journal that you still keep. It may be a pen that your grandfather gave you. It may not even be an object. It may be just a memory, or feeling.
The reason why you write will keep you pouring your heart and soul into your work. When you start working on a new project, it’s easy to get bogged down in details. That makes you lose your passionate voice. The memento will get you away from that state.
Concluding:
Inspiring people has got to be one of the most important reasons for being a writer. You enjoy expressing yourself, so you better do your best to reach the reader’s soul with that expression of your own.
Good luck!
BIO: Julie Petersen is an English tutor and a freelance writer. She works with top essay writing companies and contributes articles to the number of educational magazines.
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